Hydraulic system for the distribution of oil.



L. U. SNELL HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FOR THE IJRETRIBUTIUN F r1 APPLIUATION .FILED PEE. E9, www

. new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic lWater inlet pipe UNITED STATES `PATENT onirica.

LUTHER C.' SNELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, .ASSIGNOR TO HYDRAULIC OIL DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, OF DEIROIT, MICHIGAN, A OORIORATION OF MICHIGAN.

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FOR THE` DISTRIBUTION OF OIL.

ivo. 927,008.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Application filed February 20, 1906. Serial No. 302,120.

To all whom it may. concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER. C. Snam., a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain Systems for the Distribution oi Oil, of which the following is aspeciiieation, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to systems forthe distribution of oil, in which the oil in the storage tankis propelled to the point of consulnpton by hydrostatic pressure.

It is the riinary object of the invention to avoid possi ility of accident by limiting the y.

antity of oil that can be discharged t rough the tap.

It is a further object to avoid placing pressure upon the oil distributing connections; further, to prevent possibility of overiilling the stora e tank.

With t ese objects in view, the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter described.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, the system is illustrated' in vertical section; Fig. 2 is a cross section through the valve; and Fig. 3 is a plan thereof. p

A is the storage tank, preferably located below the groundlevel'and provided with a fill connection B. This connection enters the top or u p er part of the tank and is preferably provi ed with adeilector plate (l for causing the lateral discharge ofthe oil in en- 35 terin the tank.

D is a depending water leg from the bottom of the tank, and E isvthe water inlet ipe which passes downward through the tan to near the bottom of this water leg D.

F-is a dschar e pipe connected with the and leading to the drain, and G is a vent in this discharge pipe for maintaining atmospheric fessure therein. The level o this discharge is so located as to limit the hei ht to which the oil can be lifted Ihydrostatica ly. Thus the "ressure develtype.

As shown, Il is the auxiliary tank or receptacle which is located at a 'pf-int in proximity to the tap.

I is an oil supply pipe leading from the upper part of the tank A to the top of the auxilary taiik Il', 4and J is a water-pipe leading from the bottoni oll the auiriliary tank I-I to the bottoni of thetank A and connected to thewater supply pipe E. Both of these pipes are valve-contiolled, preferably by a double valve Kiwliiehis of the three-way The port/sinf this valve are so ar ranged that in one position (indicated in full lines in the drawing) both of the pipesI J are o cned, while in another-position (indicatec in dotted lines), both of the said pipes are cut oil' and tlie portions thereoi above the valve are respectively connected to the water-supply pipe I; and the tap M.

By the arrangementjust described, when the valve is in the positionindicated in dotted llines, water under pressure enters through the pipe L and passes into the lower end of the auxiliary tank H, forcing out any oil that may be contained therein through the pipe I to the tap M. On the other hand, when the valve is in the position indicated in full lines, free coniniunicationis established between the auxiliary tank II and the main tank A, with the result that the greater speciiic gravity of the water `will cause it to descend through the pipe J, siphoning the oil upward through the pipe I and into the upper part of the auxiliary tank H. With such an apparatus, if the operator is ca'rei'ul to properly manipulate the valve K, the tank Il may be successively filled and emptied until the supply in the inain tank A is exhausted, while at no time there a pressure developed upon the oil pipe I, between the valve It. and the `tank A, which is in excess of atn'iosplieri(A through the supply pipe L, after 'filling the 100 auxiliary tank Il, inay pass upward into the oil pipe I and lill the latter also, thereby discharging water l'roin the tap. Again, if the valve K. during the siphoning operation is not turned to the dotted position at the 105 proper time, the oil, after 'filling the tank II, will pass downward into the pi e J. Both of these'diillculties Ihave avoit ed by lacing within the auxiliary tank H a tloat construoted' 'to be maintained between the oil U0 and water, and, by providing this float with valves which automatically cut eli connection between the tank and the water and oil pipes. l

As shown, O is a guide stem passing akially and vertically through the tank H., Upon this guide stem the float h' is loosely sleeved and guided and at the top and bottom of the iloat are arranged respectively the `valve faces P Q.

R S are valve seats farmed at the top and bottom of the tank and respectively surrounding the inlets from the pipes l J. Thus the disk P will be pressed against the seat R before water can reach the pipe l and the disk Q will rest upon the seat S before oil can reach the ipe J.

Ashas een stated, the tank A is iilled from the connection B. To prevent possi bility of over-filling the tank and forcing oil out through the water inlet pipe E and discharge pipe F to the drain, l arrange an automatic valve T in the pipe B. 'lhis valve is operated by a float U in a casing V forming a riser from the pipe B, the valve being preferably of the butterfly type and operated by a rock arm J and link l) connecting to the iioat. The pro ortion of parts is'such that before the oil fi' lcd into the tank A can displace the water in the well or waterdeg D, the hydrostatic pressurefof the water in the inlet pi e E will be sufl'cient to raise the oil level a ove the tank A, iilling the casing V. Thus', as the oil rises in this casing, the lloat U will be lifted, operating the butterfly-valve T, so as te close the fill connection B. ln case of any leakage through the valve, this is prevented from further displacing the water in the water-leg D by providing a vent, such as W, for the casing V, which will permit an over ilow.

In use when oil is drawn from the tap M, it sometimes occurs that a great er supply is drawn 4than is needed. Vlo return this into the tank A, l provide a connection X to the pipe l, between the valve li. and the tank A, said connection being itself controlled by a valve Y and preferably extending downward. Whenever the-operator wishes to return oil drawn .to the tank, he inserts the lower end of the ipe X into the receptacle containing the oilpand then opens the valve Y, whereupon the suction which is always maintained upon the pipe l below the valve l( will draw into said p1pc the oil in said rer ceptacle.

I preferably arrange a transparent gage Z in connectionwith the oil inlet pipe B which will indicate the height of the oil during the iilling operation and enable the operator to cut oi'r`,thc supply after the closing of the automatic valve T.

fWhat I claim as my invention is;w

l. The'combination with a receptaclehav-' ing a water connection at one end and an oil connection at the opposite `end thereof, through which connections the receptacle is alternately filled with water and oil, of-automatic means for preventing the liquid from o ne connection entering the opposite connectlon.

2. The combination with a receptacle having a water connection at its lower end and an oil connection at its upper end, of means controlling the water. connection, whereby said receptacle is alternately iilled with water therefrom and lled with oil upon the discharge of the water by siphonage, of au-- tomatic means for preventing the passage olthe one liquid into the connection for the other liquid. Y

3. The combination with a receptacle having a water connection at its lower end and an oil connection at its upper end, of a float in said receptacle adapted to be maintained between. the oil and water, and means operated by said iioat when at either end of said receptacle for cutting olf communication with the connection thereto. l

4. The combination with a receptacle having a water connection at its lower end and an oil connection at its upper end, of'a float in said receptacle adapted to be maintained between the oil and water, and valves automatically operated by said vfloat respectively when at opposite ends of said receptacle to cut off communication with the connections i thereto.

5. The combination with a storage tank, of a receptacle above said tank, connections between the upper ends of said tank and receptaele and the lower ends thereof respectively, a water supply connection to the connection between the lower ends of said tank and receptacle, an oil discharge connection to the connection between the upper end of said tank and receptacle, a single yalve controlling said connections, and a float in said receptacle for cutting oil communication between the same and connections at the o posite ends thereof, for the purpose descri ed.

(l. The combination with a storage tank and a rece )tacle above the same, of a connection therebetween through which said receptacle is filled from said tank by si henage, and a valve-controlled pipe in sai connection for returning oil to said storage tank.

7. 'lhc combination with a storage tank, a receptacle thereabove and a valveecontrolled connection between said receptacle and tank through which the former is filled from the latter by siphonagc, lo'i a pipeconnecting with said connection below the valve, and a valve in said pipe whereby oil 1n ay be returned therethrough by suction te said storage tank.

8. The combination with a storage tank and 'a water supply connection thereto for maintaining a constant lhydrostatic pressure thereon, of an oil supply connection and a valve in said connection automatically centrolled by variation in the height of the combined Water and hydrostatic pressure.

9. The combination with a storage tank and a water connection thereto [or maintairb ing a. constant hydrostatic pressure thereon', of en oil supply connection above said tank, a riser from seid connection, a 'Heat in said riser, and e valve controlling; seid connection I mltomntieeily operated by said 'float during 'inetuz-Ltlons 1n the height of oli insald riser.

oil column sustained by said i 10. The eornbination with en oil-distributingr system, of automatic means for lifting the i oil by suction, end at velve-controlied inlet pipe connected to said system through which the oil may be returned.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature I in presence ottwo Witnesses. v i v LUTHER C. SNELL. t Witnesses: 1 JAMES l). BARRY, t EDWARD P. AULT. 

